Lollypop Farm Young Professionals Meeting - Adoptions & The Farm

Ashley Coon & pot belly pig

This month's Lollypop Farm Young Professionals meeting featured Kerry from adoptions and admissions and Joanna the Farm Manager. It was really interesting to get an inside perspective of the day to day operations at Lollypop Farm. Even as a volunteer I still learn new things each time the young professionals group has a speaker.

Kerry described to us the adoption process and how adoption counselors try to connect families with the right pet. Dogs can be a little more obvious when choosing which one is a good fit for you. Do you have time for a very hyper puppy, or would an older dog fit into your life better? Cats also have different personalities and to help increase adoptions and matching cats with the right home, Lollypop Farm has started the Meet Your Match Feline-ality program. Volunteers evaluate the cats in a calm setting outside of their cages to get a feel for the cats personality. Some cats do require more attention than others. The ASPCA has a list of descriptions on their website here.

Joanna giving Lida Rose a snack

We are very fortunate to have such a great shelter in our backyard. Lollypop is one of the few animal shelters that also accepts farm animals. Lida Rose the farm pig shown above was found as a stray wandering around in Canandaguia. They think she may have escaped from a truck on its way to the slaughter. Lida Rose turned out to be a very friendly pig! Joanna has even taught her a few tricks.

There are several pot belly pigs on the farm up for adoption. Joanna says that people get them as pets expecting them to stay small and when they don't they bring them to Lollypop Farm. Pot belly pigs are very strong, and their natural instinct is to root around in the ground. If their owners are away at work all day and the piggy is inside they may start rooting through your cupboards, wood floors, or even flip your refrigerator over!

Joanna also told us that the emus at Lollypop Farm were found as strays. One of which was caught on 390! Police restrained the emu with caution tape until Lollypop Farm staff could come pick it up. 

There will be no meeting for November. Join us at our Holiday Party in December at Dog E Woggy! More info to come. To sign up for our email list send a message to youngprofessionals@lollypop.org.

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